Coast Guard, contractors respond to pollution in Grays Harbor, Wash.

SEATTLE — The Coast Guard is responding to a report of pollution on the Hoquiam River in Grays Harbor, Monday.

A Coast Guard incident management team is currently on scene working with Cowlitz Clean Sweep personnel to contain and clean up pollution by booming off the area, using absorbent materials, flushing the waterway, setting up containment berms and using vacuum trucks to remove contaminated water.

Coast Guard Sector Columbia River watchstanders dispatched the responders after receiving a report from the National Response Center of an unknown sheen coming from Hoquiam River, Saturday.

Personnel reported the source is a discharge from in the subcontracted Brumfield Construction’s demolition operation at the Harbor Paper Mill in Hoquiam. Upon discovery of the discharge, demolition operations were halted and clean up efforts began, including the hiring of Cowlitz Clean Sweep to contain and clean up the pollution.

The type of clean up operations necessary was determined after pollution samples were tested and found that the discharge contained a light oil product.

“The actions of the initial witnesses, contractors and Coast Guard personnel ensured the source was promptly secured and discharge contained,” said Chief Petty Officer Bradley Bennett, a pollution investigator a Sector Columbia River. “The Coast Guard will continue to monitor clean up efforts to help minimize the damage that may have been caused.”